Shivraj Singh Chouhan urges tree plantation on Govardhan Puja for ecological balance
Synopsis
On Govardhan Puja, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made a pointed appeal: plant trees not just for humans, but for every animal, bird, and insect that depends on them. His call to embed plantation into birthdays, anniversaries, and festivals — backed by the Vriksh Mitra Parivar initiative — frames environmental conservation as a civic and cultural duty.
Key Takeaways
Shivraj Singh Chouhan delivered his ecology appeal on Govardhan Puja , 10 November 2026 , speaking in Bhopal .
He stressed that trees sustain not only humans but also animals, birds, and insects essential to ecological balance.
Chouhan urged people to plant saplings on birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and festivals as a personal conservation commitment.
The Vriksh Mitra Parivar initiative will hold plantation drives annually on World Environment Day , Hariyali Amavasya , and Govardhan Puja .
He described Govardhan Puja as a festival symbolising the protection of cattle wealth and nature.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 10 November 2026 called on citizens to embrace tree plantation as a personal and social responsibility, stressing that trees are indispensable not just for humans but for the survival of animals, birds, and insects that form the bedrock of Earth's ecological system. Speaking to the press in Bhopal on the occasion of Govardhan Puja, Chouhan urged people to make plantation drives a part of everyday celebrations.
Trees as a Shared Responsibility
Chouhan underlined that the significance of Govardhan Puja — a festival traditionally associated with the protection of cattle and nature — must translate into tangible action. 'Let us all plant trees on this auspicious occasion and offer a precious gift to nature,' he said. He described trees as essential to every living being, emphasising that animals, birds, and insects are an integral part of the natural system whose survival is closely linked to the preservation of forests and green cover.
Planting on Personal Occasions
The minister appealed to individuals to plant saplings on birthdays, their children's birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and in memory of ancestors — embedding environmental conservation into family and social traditions. He argued that individual efforts, however small, can collectively contribute to reversing ecological degradation and securing natural resources for future generations.
Vriksh Mitra Parivar Initiative
Chouhan also highlighted the Vriksh Mitra Parivar initiative, a campaign committed to regular public drives for environmental protection. Under this initiative, special plantation programmes are to be organised annually on World Environment Day, Hariyali Amavasya, and Govardhan Puja. The initiative aims to build a sustained community-level movement rather than one-off symbolic gestures.
Festival Greetings and Forward Vision
Extending Govardhan Puja greetings, Chouhan prayed to Lord Krishna for prosperity and happiness in every household, expressing hope that the festival would infuse fresh energy and well-being into people's lives. He reiterated that worshipping nature must be complemented by efforts to protect it and maintain a clean environment so that the Earth remains capable of supporting life for generations to come.
Point of View
But India's tree plantation campaigns have a credibility problem: survival rates of planted saplings remain low due to poor post-planting maintenance, and official green cover data has repeatedly been contested by independent ecologists. Linking plantation to personal milestones is a behavioural nudge worth trying, but without monitoring frameworks, the Vriksh Mitra Parivar initiative risks becoming another photo-op campaign. The minister's framing — trees for animals, birds, and insects, not just humans — is a genuine ecological argument that deserves a policy backbone to match the rhetoric.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shivraj Singh Chouhan say on Govardhan Puja about tree plantation?
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appealed to citizens to plant trees on personal occasions such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and festivals, arguing that trees are vital not just for humans but for the survival of animals, birds, and insects that sustain ecological balance.
What is the Vriksh Mitra Parivar initiative?
Vriksh Mitra Parivar is a community-driven campaign for environmental protection that commits to organising plantation drives every year on World Environment Day, Hariyali Amavasya, and Govardhan Puja. It aims to build a sustained public movement for green cover conservation.
Why is Govardhan Puja significant for environmental conservation?
Govardhan Puja is traditionally associated with the protection of cattle wealth and nature, making it a culturally resonant occasion to highlight ecological responsibilities. Chouhan described it as a festival that reminds people of their duty to preserve natural resources for future generations.
Who is Shivraj Singh Chouhan?
Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the Union Agriculture Minister of India and a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. He previously served multiple terms as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh before joining the Union Cabinet.
How can individuals contribute to tree plantation according to Chouhan?
Chouhan suggested planting saplings on birthdays, children's birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and in memory of ancestors, embedding conservation into family celebrations. He said even small individual efforts can collectively make a meaningful difference to India's ecological health.
